DirecTV

AT&T just launched AT&T TV, a system with which the average consumer can get "smart TV" in their home. This is all about getting apps and streaming content into the homes of the people that have not yet purchased a smart TV or a smart TV box of some sort or another. If you're not already in that space, AT&T wants to be the one to make you understand that this is the future - and that you should get into it as soon as possible.

A DirecTV satellite has suffered a 'major anomaly' that has put its batteries at risk of exploding, according to a document recently published by the FCC. The company is working on decommissioning the satellite in order to get it out of orbit before the batteries burst, which would jeopardize other satellites.

The streaming service AT&T TV Now, once called DirecTV Now, will get a price hike in the near future. This jump will affect all subscribers, even those that'd previously been "grandfathered in" to older pricing. The price hike will come to approximately $15 extra, for each subscriber, per month.

In the very early morning hours on Saturday, July 20, channels owned by CBS Corp. went dark on DirecTV, DirecTV NOW, and AT&T U-Verse, the company has revealed. This blackout impacts AT&T customers in a number of major US cities, as well as DirecTV NOW subscribers who would ordinarily receive access to a total of 117 CBS affiliates and stations. Sports and more are also impacted on the DirecTV services.

A new version of the Apple TV app is coming to multiple platforms this year, and along with it, Apple TV Channels. This system will bring services like Hulu, DirecTV, and PlayStation Vue to iPhone, iPad, and macOS (MacBooks, desktops), with shows in mind. This system will include a slightly new UI and access to network TV from both satellite and cable brands.

The folks at AT&T decided that yesterday's leaked DirecTV NOW prices and packages were, indeed, ready to go public today. In the mix are both the DirecTV NOW Plus and MAX packages, as revealed yesterday, both with different prices from those on the books up until yesterday. What's strange here is the relative lack of details with which the plans were, today, shown - almost as if this announcement was a reaction to yesterday's leak.

A ten dollar price increase was tipped this afternoon for all DIRECTV NOW users. That'll apparently make the standard package DIRECTV NOW cost around $50 a month - and it'll be re-named DIRECTV NOW Plus. This smaller of two packages will have "40+ channels" and will replace the standard DIRECTV NOW package that currently costs $40 USD.

In the last several years, AT&T has made two huge acquisitions: DirecTV in 2015, and Time Warner in 2018. With these mergers — which were clearly anti-consumer — AT&T thought it turn itself from a telecom giant into a cable TV giant, with a near monopoly on the US's media industry. But instead of just buying itself an undeniable advantage, the company has given customers more reason to leave by attempting to cover its immense debt with price increases.

Hulu is gearing up to test advertisements that play when the viewer pauses a video, a new report claims. The idea reportedly is being explored by both AT&T and Hulu, the latter of which is said to be prepping the change for a 2019 launch. Hulu already shows advertisements to customers who subscribe to the cheaper monthly plan, but the new alleged test may change when customers see them.

The streaming market is in full bloom and there's no shortage of options to choose from. The industry has experienced major changes in just a handful of years, seeing the launch of services that include live television, cloud-based DVR, offline on-demand content, and a growing body of original shows. What can customers expect rolling into the new year?

AT&T plans to launch its DirecTV NOW product on Magic Leap's system in the future. The company says it will be launching a 5G test zone on Magic Leap's Florida campus next year, as well, this making it possible for developers to test apps and devices on the faster mobile technology. The plans were revealed today at the Magic Leap conference in LA.

Following its promise earlier this year, DirecTV has officially launched Amazon Alexa support for its satellite television customers. The company first revealed plans to offer support for the assistant back in March, something that would bring voice control as an optional alternative for the ordinary remote control. That new functionality is now live...but you can only use it if you have the right hardware.